From Bloomington to Taylor - Part 1

Based on the family information John Hansen and his family left Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho in 1899 to travel to their new property in Taylor, Bannock, Idaho.  In the booklet Bear Lake Pioneers of 1864 it states:

"When they came to Idaho Falls and Taylor, they left Bloomington down in the meadow near the outlet of Bear Lake in 1899.  Traveling in a white top buggy, wagons and the boys on horses who drove several cows and 30 head of sheep.  In the white top rode several chickens and the seed to plant.  They went down through Soda Springs to the Indian reservation.  Because of hoof and mouth disease they wouldn't let the animals cross the streams.  So the sheep came across in the white top buggy that is Blackfoot river as they came into Gosehn."

Information from other family members seems to indicate they passed through Wolverine Canyon and stayed the night there on the way over the mountains into Taylor.  I have also been told they may have stayed the night around Grays Lake, which seems out of the way and adds about 20 miles to the trip, but may have been necessary for water.

The following are four of the most plausible routes based on modern roads (many of them dirt) that would roughly trace the route they might have followed. If you have additional information on the route they may have taken or would like to speculate on which of these routes is most likely please contact me.

Option A – Bloomington > Soda Springs > Wolverine Canyon > Taylor

Option B – Bloomington > Soda Springs > Wolverine Canyon > Goshen > Taylor

Option C – Bloomington > Soda Springs > Grays Lake > Wolverine Canyon > Goshen > Taylor

Option D – Bloomington > Soda Springs > Grays Lake > Wolverine Canyon >  Taylor

John & Alice Hansen Move into Town

Source: Idaho Register (December 11, 1914)

In late 1914 John Hansen completed construction of a beautiful new home for his family located in Idaho Falls.  The home was located at 499 'E' Street which was only about 800 feet from the edge of the Snake River and a quarter of a mile from the future site of the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.  He continued to run the  ranch and farm in Taylor, which was less than 10 miles away from the new home.

It is unknown at this point when John acquired the land and started construction of their new home. As seen on the following Sanborn Map of Idaho Falls the future home site was vacant as of the November 1911 publication.  Across the street from where the home is to be built was a small LDS Chapel occupying only a small portion of the block which was owned by the church.

Source: Sanborn Map Idaho Falls, Idaho (November 1911)

By the time John completed construction of his home the LDS Church had built the LDS Auditorium directly across the street from his home complete with a performance stage and dance hall.  The April 1921 Sanborn Map, shows John and Alice Hansen's home as well as the new LDS Auditorium. The property John constructed his new home on was 50' x 140' and was located on the corner of Capital and 'E' Street.  Behind the home was a free standing garage for John to park the Studebaker he had purchased a few years earlier. 

Source: Sanborn Map Idaho Falls, Idaho (April 1921)

While in this home John and Alice also had living with them Alice's father, Alfred Bateman for a time.  They also raised their 16 month old granddaughter Lula Hansen after her mother, Nettie Lords Hansen (married to Sidney Lorenzo Hansen) passed away as a result of complications related to child birth.  Both mother and baby passed away in June of 1917.  Other's of their children lived with them, their babies were born in this home with the help of Alice, and many others visited over the years they were in this home.

Also, according to the 1920 US Census John Hansen owned the home and property free and clear of any mortgage.  The census also indicates that Alice could not read or write.

Sometime between 1937 and 1940 Alice Hansen and her daughter Ellen Lords moved from the home at 499 'E' Street to a new home a few miles away located at 311 11th Street. Alice lived in this home until her death in 1961 (This home still stands today).

The home on 'E' Street was torn down long ago as have most of the homes in the area to make way for progress. I have been unable to locate any photographs of the home as it looked then or any other details about the home.  If you have additional information, photographs, or stories please contact me.

Why Did John Hansen Go To California?

According to the memory of Wayne Bingham, his grandfather, John Hansen went to California to work a piece of property he bought as a retirement home away from the severe Idaho winters.  In 1918 John took the train from Idaho Falls to Winton, California to get things started. The train took him from Idaho Falls down to Ogden, Utah and then across norther Nevada into Sacramento and then down to Winton, California.  It is believed the property in was 20 acres (I am currently working to get a copy of the land documents). John Hansen planned to raise fruit trees on this small acreage in his retirement.

Source: California State Journal of Medicine
February 1924. Page 68.

John traveled back to the property again in 1921 intended to only be gone a few weeks and then return to Idaho Falls, but while there he contracted diphtheria. In the 1920s, there were an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 cases of diphtheria per year in the United States, causing 13,000 to 15,000 deaths per year (Source: Atkinson W, Hamborsky J, McIntyre L, Wolfe S, eds. (2007). Diphtheria. in: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (The Pink Book) (10 ed.). Washington DC: Public Health Foundation. pp. 59–70.)  According to the California Journal of Medicine about 600 people each year were dying in California from diphtheria in the 1920's.  The prospects for those who survived the illness were not much better.  Many suffered for the remainder of their life from the effects of having contracted this illness.  By the 1920's a vaccine had been developed to prevent the spread of diphtheria, but it was not widely used until some years later.

As John started to recover from the effects of diphtheria he contracted pneumonia, a common secondary infection and as a result of this illness he passed away October 16, 1921 in Madera, California.  After his death he was transported back to Idaho Falls and buried in the Taylor Cemetery near the homestead he worked so hard to build.

John's wife, Alice Hansen, was very upset about the property in California and refused to go there with him.  He was planning their retirement but it would take her away from her children and grandchildren she loved so much, even if only for the winter.  She refused to go with him.  After his death she refused to deal with the property and allowed it to be taken by the county in lieu of payment, not only for outstanding taxes, but for rodent eradication, which if left unattended to by the property owners, was by statute taken care of by the county with the owners’ paying for the service.

(Thanks to Colleen Reep, daughter of Wayne Bingham, for her interview of her father and providing much of this information)  If other family members have additional memories, stories or documentation I would love to hear from you.

Union Pacific Railroad Map from Idaho Falls, Idaho to Madera, California (circa 1900)

Taylor and Goshen Canal Company

The following is a transcript of the Articles of Incorporation of the Taylor and Goshen Canal Company.  The name J.H. Hansen appears as a subscriber with 8 shares.  As I am unable to find any reference to another Hansen, the presumption is that this is John Hansen.  I have never seen in any record or reference a middle initial I cannot be completely sure this is him, but would appear to be so.  If someone has information to the contrary or that can confirm this assumption I would be interested in hearing from you.

The Taylor and Goshen Canal Company was formed on May 24, 1899 and ended operation on December 1, 1912. Additional information on the Taylor and Goshen Canal Company can be found at:

• The Pacific Reporter, Volume 102 (Published 1909, pg 381-389)
• Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Idaho: Volume 16 (Pub 1910 pg 639-664)
• Loss of Water for Taylor and Goshen Canal
• History of the Idaho Falls City Canal

City Waterworks Electric Light Plan
Source: Sanborn Map of Idaho Falls (November 1905)

Taylor and Goshen Canal Company

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

Know all men by these presents: that we the undersigned, have this day voluntarily associated ourselves togeather for the purpose of forming under the laws of the State of Idaho, and we hereby certify:

First, That the name of said corporation is The Taylor and Goshen Canal Company. 

Second. That the purpose for which it is formed is to construct and own canals and acquire water rights, and to take water for agicultural purposes and for domestic use, the head of it's main canal being located at the tail race of the water wheel of the town of Idaho Falls, on the Crow and Watts Slough, in the town of Idaho Falls, Bingham County, Idaho,and running thence in a southerly and south-easterly direction to Cedar Hollow which shall be the terminus.

Third, the place where it's principal business is to be transacted shall be the town of Taylor, Bingham County, Idaho.

Fourth, That the term for which it is to exist is fifty years from and after the date of it's incorporation.

Fifth, The number of it's directors shall be five and the names and residences of those appointed for the first year or until their successors shall be elected by the stock holders on the 22nd day of March 1899, are as follows to wit:

• William Priest, Taylor, Idaho
• Joseph Jensen, Goshen, Idaho
• Eli Wadsworth, Taylor, Idaho
• A.M. Neilson, Goshen, Idaho
• Henry Harriman, Taylor, Idaho

Sixth, The amount of the capital stock of the corporation is forty thousand dollars, divided into sixteen hundred shares at twenty five dollars per share.

Seventh, That the amount of said capital stock which has been actually subscribed is $14,600.00 and the following are the names of the parties by whom the same has been subscribed:

• William Garner, 16
• August Samuelson, 16
• R.E. Hansen, 16
• Jas Burmeister, 16
• John Lundell, 20
• Lars Sorensen, 16
• Gust Blomquist, 25
• Jas N. Christensen, 20
• Neils Monson, 40
• John L. Blomquist, 25
• Ola Hanson, 25
• Parker V. Cox, 25
• Robert Egbert, 12
• Harry Miller, 16
• Joseph J. Jensen, 16
• Frank Clark, 12
• J.G. McAllister, 18
• Henry H. Harriman, 25
• Wm. Priest, 16
• Albert Wasserman, 16
• A.M. Nielsen, 40
• G.H. Thompson, 16
• H.P. Nielsen, 16
• J.H. Hansen, 8
• J.P. Johnsen, 32
• C.H. Christenson, 16
• Hiram Hansen, 16
• J.H. Vaughn, 16
• Heber Arave, 16
• D.H. Collett, 8
• Heber Christensen, 25
• Mary Ann Jensen, 16
• Geo H. Longhurst, 16

In Witness Whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 22nd day of March 1899.

• Wm Priest
• Joseph J. Jensen
• Adolph M. Nielson
• Henry H. Harriman
• Eli A Wadsworth

Notorized May 19, 1899 before Joseph A. Clark, Notary
Recorded May 22, 1899 by George F. Gagon, Recorder

John Hansen Purchases A Studebaker

By 1912 John Hansen was becoming well known throughout the Idaho Falls community as a prominent rancher and horseman.  On Tuesday, July 9, 1912 it was reported by the Idaho Register that John Hansen had spent Saturday in town (Idaho Falls).  It would seem based on the news report that he was touring around town in his new EMF Studebaker which he had recently acquired.

Source: The Idaho Register. Tuesday, July 9, 1912

In 1912 a new Studebaker cost approximately $1,100 (which in 2012 dollars is the equivalent of $26,190.48).  To help put the value of the Studebaker into real terms the average American household income was $750 per year which meant this vehicle cost John Hansen about 1.5 times as much as the average annual income.  In 2012 the average annual household income is approximately $63,000 which would translate to a vehicle that cost over $90,000.

Studebaker Ad (cira 1912)

By the end of 1912 there were approximately 356,000 cars on the road in the United States (1 car for every 268 citizens).  For the first time there were more cars than horses on the road in New York City. By 2009 there were estimated to be 254,212,610 cars on the road in the United States (1 car for every 1.2 citizens).

John Hansen appears to have been a successful rancher, farmer and horseman which allowed him to provide well for his family.

Source: 1912 EMF Studebaker Brochure (pg 17)

John Hansen and More Horse Stories

Today I came across another reference in the Idaho Register dated Tuesday, May 2, 1916.  It is a short news article about John Hansen purchasing a French Percheron stallion named Incruste.  The stallion took second place in the 1909 Internationals in the Class 4 - Yearling Stallions category (Source: Percheron Stud Book of America: Volume 13) and who apparently took first prize at the "roundup and fair" in 1915 (Source: The Idaho Register. May 2, 1916).

Source: The Idaho Register (May 2, 1916)

I discovered the breeding record for the stallion, Incruste, which provided additional information on where this particular horse came from and put me on the trail to the Percheron Society of America (The organization now operates under the name: Percheron Horse Association of America). The organization which all pure bred Percherons were registered with.  They published an annual book titled: Percheron Stud Book of America and is made up of multiple volumes.

Source: Percheron Stud Book of America: Volume 13 (1912)

In searching the records of the Percheron Society of America I also discovered the following reference to a Percheron bred by John Hansen in 1908 named Fenelon.

Source: Percheron Stud Book of America: Volume 13 (1912)

 There are many other reference to additional horse bred by John Hansen spanning through several volumes of the Percheron Stud Book of America.  John Hansen spent a great deal of time and money in acquiring and breeding fine horses and appears to have been very well known throughout the Idaho Falls area in the early 1900's for his efforts.

An example of a pure bred champion Percheron
(The individual pictured is not John Hansen nor is the horse one of his and
is only shown here as an example of the type of horses he bred and raised)

Expanding Research Focus On The John & Alice Hansen Family

Today I decided to change the focus of the blog from my research on my great grandfather (Sidney Lorenzo Hansen) to my great-great grandfather John Hansen and his wife Alice Elizabeth Bateman.  As part of this change I am not only interested in research related to his ancestors but all of his children and their descendants.  If you have additional information, photos, stories or other family information I would love to hear from you.

JOHN HANSEN was born on 15 Dec 1863 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah, USA. He died on 16 Oct 1921 in Madera, Madera, California, USA. He married Alice Elizabeth Bateman, daughter of Alfred Bateman and Esther Elizabeth WIFFIN on 20 Oct 1884 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. She was born on 29 Aug 1868 in Stifford, Essex, England. She died on 23 Mar 1961 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, USA.

John Hansen and Alice Elizabeth Bateman had the following children:

i. HERBERT JOHN HANSEN was born on 18 Aug 1885 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. He died on 19 Jun 1890. 

ii. LAWRENCE ALFRED HANSEN was born on 03 Oct 1887 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. He died on 17 Jun 1963 in Ammon, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. He married Kate Vinnie Humphreys on 11 Apr 1906. She was born on 04 Jul 1888 in Paris, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. She died on 14 Nov 1963 in Shelly, Bonneville, Idaho, USA.

iii. SIDNEY LORENZO HANSEN was born on 07 Apr 1889 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. He died on 02 May 1947 in Taylor, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. He married Nettie May Lords, daughter of David Nerden Lords and Katherine Marilla Locks on 12 Nov 1913. She was born on 10 May 1896 in Blue Valley, Wayne, Utah, USA. She died on 02 Jun 1917 in Taylor, Bonneville, Idaho, USA (Died from complication in child birth). He married MAUDE G. MILLER, daughter of George Harry Miller and Rose Elizabeth Huband on 08 Dec 1917 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. She was born on 17 Jan 1900 in Taylor, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. She died in Nov 1981 in Bonneville, Idaho, USA.
iv. ESTHER ELIZABETH HANSEN was born on 20 May 1891 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. She died on 16 Jun 1983 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California, United States. She married Frank Randolph Ashment on 23 Apr 1911 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States. He was born on 22 Apr 1891 in Richmond, Cache, Utah, United States. He died on 09 Dec 1960 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California, United States.

v. CORA ELLEN HANSEN was born on 08 Dec 1893 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. She died on 01 Nov 1975 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. She married Howard Lords on 10 Mar 1915. He was born on 31 May 1894 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. He died on 16 Nov 1918 in Bonneville, Idaho.

vi. MARGERY ALICE HANSEN was born on 28 Mar 1895 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. She died on 03 Aug 1979 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. She married Alfred R Bingham, son of Erastus Alma Bingham and Susan Ann Lords on 12 Nov 1913 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA. He was born on 04 May 1895 in Tucson, Pima, Arizona, USA. He died on 11 Oct 1984 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, USA.

vii. GEORGE HANSEN was born on 25 Feb 1897 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. He died on 20 Mar 1897.

viii. CARLINE ANN HANSEN was born on 10 May 1898 in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA. She died on 18 Jul 1958 in Pleasant Hills, Contra Costa, California, USA. She married William Ellsworth Galloway on 23 Dec 1919 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. He was born on 04 Dec 1890 in Heppner, Morrow, Oregon, USA. He died on 24 Feb 1970 in Twin Falls, Idaho, USA.

ix. JAMES ELIZA HANSEN was born in Dec 1900 in Taylor, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. He died in Jan 1901.

x. CHESTER OLIVER HANSEN was born on 31 May 1902 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho. He died on 12 Dec 1989 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho. He married Boletta Margaret Eckersley, daughter of William Alonzo Eckersley and Margaret C Callahan on 01 Aug 1923 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States. She was born on 11 Jul 1905 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States. She died in Oct 1976 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States. He married Calista Waite on 27 Apr 1977 in Taylor, Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho. She was born on 14 Jan 1904 in Bountiful, Davis, Utah. She died on 20 Jul 2006 in La Mesa, San Diego, California

xi. ALMER HANSEN was born on 05 Jun 1906 in Taylor, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. He died on 01 Feb 1907.

xii. VELMA HANSEN was born on 05 Jun 1906 in Taylor, Bonneville, Idaho, USA. She died on 10 Feb 1998 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States of America. She married Francis Alonzo Eckersley on 23 Oct 1927 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States. He was born on 15 Aug 1908 in Sugar City, Fremont, Idaho USA. He died on 06 Aug 1983 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho USA.